Recruiting
- Thread starter Cats60
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Collins recruits primarily top 100 players and it's a tough sell to convince a kid to come to NU to play at Allstate arena for a year for a team that has never made the NCAA with no real practice facility (I believe they are practicing at Patton next year). Might have more to sell the top recruits in the class of 2018.
Sanjay and Tap will graduate. I assume Vassar's schollie is still unavailable. What am I missing?
While he seems like a good prospect, feels like we should be focusing more on big men... maybe that's the intent of the grad transfer route?
Especially since bigs take longer to develop. But have to remember, we have two coming back next year with 3 and4 years to play. I would guess it will be a focus for next year.
He's better than a good prospect. He may be player of the year in Illinois in a year that is a step up from 2016.
But your point is a solid one. I would add that I'm glad NU will be going after big men after the success of this year (versus last). Collins is an excellent recruiter and closer, but nothing like being the subject of the national news media and an NCAA tournament team.
You're thinking of Falzon and Ivanauskas (sp... never going to get that one right)? While I admittedly don't follow basketball or basketball recruiting as closely as football, I always thought of those two more as bigger wings rather than true "bigs."
GCG, we really only have three guards who see action, and two of them will be gone after next year. Meanwhile we have 5 frontcourt players (Pardon, Benson, Law, Falzone and Ivanauskas) who have 2+ years of eligibility left. I think this is a year to go after guards. Big men for 2018.
Don't necessarily disagree, but it never seems like NU can get "instant impact" big men so my thinking is that we might have to take one a year or two earlier than might be ideal.
Yes but at 6'8" sort of fit in multiple roles. .Not true bigs but... Got to also remember we have 2 more years of Pardon and 3 of Benson so we are not in bad position at this time. Guards were most important to replace this year as next year we lose both BMac and Lindsey to graduation
I think Ivanauskas can develop into a true 4 if he can add some strength, hopefully in the off-season once his shoulder heals. He has a good chance to become a plus defender and rebounder because of his athleticism, length (he is a little taller than Pardon) and long arms. He's supposed to be a high energy guy and scouting reports that I have seen have been more positive on his defense than his offense. His outside shot is supposed to be the weakest part of his game. Falzon will probably never be a great defender or rebounder but he should be able to create mismatches at the 4 on offense. From what I saw his freshman year, he is not nearly as consistent from 3 as Taphorn (few are) but he can get his shot off more quickly and can carry the team when he is hot. If everyone is healthy, I envision next year's team being a little less of a lock-down defensive team and little more explosive offensively with the transition from Lumpkin to Skelly, Rap and sometimes Falzon.
I agree, though, that with Skelly graduating next year, the sooner we can add more size up front the better.
A senior Tap is a more consistent shooter than the freshman Falzon. I wouldn't bet money against Falzon having the better shooting career. And any year Falzon has quicker feet and is a better defender.
Rap is a legit 6 9". He is a very crafty scorer from the free throw line in. And his distance shooting is getting there.
Rap is a legit 6 9". He is a very crafty scorer from the free throw line in. And his distance shooting is getting there.
I don't disagree but we do have Benson taking that role next year and size at the wings potentially solidifying the 4 spot. So the bigger requirement for this years class is at the guard, small forward position and that is what we have and or are pursuing. I would guess there will be a big push for bigs in next years class. As far as Falzon not being as consistent as a Frosh as Tap has been as an upper class man, Tap was not as consistent as a Frosh either.
Agreed, Mark Smith is big time from everything I've seen and heard. He is the kind of player you take no matter what your needs are. Collins can focus on Bigs next year.
I wasn't suggesting that front court players should be our focus. We have historically struggled to find 4's, though, and if a really good one is available, I wouldn't necessary pass.
I don't think we would want to have Benson and Pardon on the floor that often if that's what you meant. They both need to play around the basket and I would think that it would affect our spacing and the flow of the offense.
As for Tap, I know he was not as consistent of a shooter as a freshman. He's shooting 45% from 3-point range this year, though and I don't expect that Falzon will be able to duplicate that (few can). Falzon is able to get his shot off more quickly and from well beyond the 3-point line. He will shoot more often than Tap with a higher degree of difficulty and, as result, likely have more 1-6 and 3-6 type nights. He's a better scorer than Tap; Tap is just very reliable in a more limited role.
Benson played well against Wiskey and should play a bigger role next year. I imagine going up against Pardon in practice every day is a good learning experience for him.
Falzon is more than just a 3-point shooter, he is athletic and can score around the rim. I'm really intrigued by Rap, he has length and seemingly a high basketball IQ. I agree that Smith or another point guard are higher priorities for this recruiting class.
It isn't but it could happen as well. More Pardon and Benson take care of the 5 and Skelly, Rap and Falzon dealing with the 4. Basically we have backup at every position, especially if we get someone like Smith to go along with Gaines.
Would not be oppossed to a potential Grad transfer big guy to take load off of DP
and to some extent BB down low but also thrilled with staff and ability to develop
our own guys. Anxious to see what is in store for Benson, Ivanauskis and Falzon
over next 7/8 months. TRUST CHRIS COLLINS!
and to some extent BB down low but also thrilled with staff and ability to develop
our own guys. Anxious to see what is in store for Benson, Ivanauskis and Falzon
over next 7/8 months. TRUST CHRIS COLLINS!
If IL is our competition, obviously they are closer but looking at the programs, NU is on the way up and IL????? Not even sure if Groce is still the guy but if not, who is? And if he is, for how long???
Well, they signed LOI's with Indiana, so IU would have to allow them to transfer within the Big 10. Highly unlikely.
Players in those situations are typically released from their LOIs and therefore wouldn't be subject to transfer rules or restrictions.
Besides that, wouldn't Crean or his replacement have to figure out how to get rid of a guy or two still?
That might be the most interesting thought of the day. If Crean is fired, what does the new guy do? Does he force players currently in the program out or does he drop players that have signed LOIs?